Patio / Outdoor Rugs

This is actually a great question. Think of the distinction this way: Only outdoor rugs should be left to the elements outside your home. Outdoor areas rugs are made of materials that make them weather the rain, snow, humidity that they'll certainly encounter after you roll them out on your patio or deck. From freezing winter to steaming summer, outdoor rugs are geared to take it all in stride. You wouldn't want to put an indoor rug outside; that's a recipe for rug ruination. But an indoor-outdoor rug can be in your dining room one day and under your picnic table the next, since indoor-outdoor rugs are designed to work well whether laid out under your roof or under the wide-open sky. And while you're likely to be familiar with indoor area rugs in all of their variety, rest assured that you'll discover outdoor rugs in a wide range of colors, patterns, sizes, and styles—but usually manufactured in a synthetic material that makes them more durable outside in the elements.

• Still curious? Read answers to common outdoor rug questions

How do you clean and care for outdoor rugs?

Since outdoor rugs are made to take a licking in the wild world outside your door, they tend to be lower-maintenance than indoor rugs. But it's definitely good to occasionally hang them to dry on a clothesline or deck rail and to then give them a regular vacuuming, which will keep your outdoor rugs looking clean and sharp. Another care tip that will help to prolong the life of your outdoor rugs is to roll them up during rainy or particularly harsh weather. Store your dry, rolled rugs in your garage, basement, or elsewhere until the weather clears and you actually want to be outside with your rugs. If you do leave your outdoor rugs outside year-round, it's a great idea to spray them down with a power washer and an appropriate exterior detergent about once a year. This will help to brighten them up and reduce any pesky mold or mildew issues that may crop up in more humid climes. However you approach your rug care routine outside, rest assured that at Rugs USA, we dedicate our 20+ years of rug expertise to creating the best rugs for your home—and your outdoor spaces too.

• Learn more about caring for outdoor rugs

Where can you use outdoor rugs and runners?

The short answer is that you can place outdoor rugs and runners just about anywhere outside that you'd want to go! Many of our customers enjoy placing our outdoor rugs under lounge chairs on their front porches, framing their patio tables and furniture, and softening their tread (and protecting feet from slivers) on their wooden decks. There are also many creative ways to use these hardy "floor coverings" where floors aren't your typical type. How about rolling out an outdoor rug inside your tent or outside your trailer while camping? And how would an outdoor runner laid out in front of your workbench in your garage both spruce up the space and make it more comfortable too? You can even use an outdoor runner or area rug out on your lawn as a great place to crash, itch-free. Just be sure to not leave the rug on your grass or you may end up with an unsightly yellow patch where your appealing rug was. As you can tell, at Rugs USA, we think being creative with outdoor rugs is a lot of fun—with a lot of function!